KARACHI:Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday dismissed the petition of Rehman Bhola, Baldia garments factory fire accused, against the recording of statement of factory owner via video link.
A SHC bench, headed by Justice Sallahuddin Pahnwar, heard the petition filed by Rehman Bhola against the recording of statement via video link but the bench dismissed it by remarking that there was nothing wrong with getting help in a case through advanced technology.
The bench remarked that statement of owners of Ali Enterprises Baldia factory could be recorded through video link.
The counsel of accused submitted with the bench that petition for recording of statement via video link was filed by prosecution instead of witness.
Justice remarked it does not matter who filed petition. The counsel submitted that witness was also an accused in the case so how he could witness. The bench expressed dissatisfaction with his arguments and remarked what was wrong if statement of factory owners are recorded through video link.
Justice Pahnwar remarked: “There is tragedy with us that we are still in old era, recording of statement through video link must be widespread.
The bench questioned the accused that did he want factory owner come from Canada to record his statement? It also remarked that you (Rehman Bhola) has nothing to do with the statement of factory owner, but you have worries about video link.
“Why you want to summon factory owner in Pakistan,” the bench questioned. The prosecutor of Rangers submitted with the bench that they wanted to record the statement of Arhsad Bhalia and Shahid Bhalia through video link technology because they were out of country due to life threats.
More than 260 workers were burnt alive in the multistorey building of the Ali Enterprises garment factory on Sept 11, 2012.
Seventeen charred bodies recovered from the burnt industrial unit are still unidentified.
Nine accused – including Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker and then provincial minister for commerce and industries Rauf Siddiqui, then MQM sector-in-charge Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola; Zubair, alias Chariya – have been charged with allegedly setting ablaze the ill-fated industrial unit with the help of its four gatekeepers – Shahrukh, Fazal Ahmed, Arshad Mehmood and Ali Mohammad.
The prosecution alleged that they acted on the instruction of the then head of the MQM’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee, Hammad Siddiqui, as the factory owners failed to pay Rs250 million protection money and partnership in the business.